Repeating air rifle



SeP 11, l956 E. E. FOSTER REPEATING AIR RIFLE Filed Oct. l0,

INVENTOR. Bymw' ATTRNEYS.

l, Il,

Unite rates Pater REPEATING AIR RIFLE Edwin E.Foster, Austin, Tex. Application October 10, 19'52, Serial No. 314,159 7 Claims. (Cl. 124-13) 'Ihis invention relates to repeating toy ries and more particularly to an air operated rie of the type which shoots hollow light projectiles such as Ping-pong balls.

In ries of this type it is desirable to employ a relatively long barrel to hold a large number of balls so that a large number of shots can be fired for each loading. It is necessary that the balls be fed through the barrel to the firing chamber to be discharged therefrom, and it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a repeating toy rie in which the projectiles in the barrel are fed therethrough into the firing chamber by air pressure.

Another object is to provide a repeating rie in which a pump is connected to the firing chamber to furnish air under pressure for discharging projectiles therefrom and is also connected to the rear end of the barrel to force the projectiles therein to the tiring chamber.

According to one feature of the invention a follower is provided slidably sealed in the barrel to press the projectiles therein toward the ring chamber. Preferably a relief valve is provided in the barrel to limit the feeding pressure so that the projectiles will be fed properly without being damaged or crushed.

A further object is to provide a repeating toy rie in which a double acting pump is employed having one stroke which pumps air to the ring chamber to discharge a projectile therefrom and another stroke which pumps air to the rear end of the barrel to feed the projectiles therethrough to the tiring chamber.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a central section through a repeating toy rie embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged partial section similar to Figure l of the stock end of the rie, and

` Figure 4 is an enlarged partial section similar to Figure 1 showing the pump.

The rie as illustrated comprises an elongated tubular barrel which is bent intermediate its ends to follow the general angle of a conventional rifle. A stock 11 encloses the rear end of the barrel and may be formed of molded plastic or the like in two halves to fit together over the barrel. The end of the barrel extends substantially to the end of the stock and is rigidly supported therein by a crosspiece 12.

At its forward end the barrel carries a firing chamber indicated generally at 13 which may be constructed as more particularly described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 314,158, liled Octoberl, 1952, now matured into Patent. No. 2,653,592. The tiring chamber as shown comprises a body 14 formed of molded materialsuch as rubber, plastic, or the like, and is `secured to the end of the barrel. Near its outer end the body 14 is formed with a resilient annular lip 15 to pro- Near the inner end of the tiring chamber a resilient tubular sleeve 17 is provided which is secured to the rear end of the tiring chamber and which is detached from the ring chamber at its front end. Air is supplied to the space around the sleeve 17 through an air passage 18 to expand the sleeve into sealing and gripping engagement with the second projectile in the series. After grip,- ping the second projectile, the sleeve will yield so fthat air can pass to the space between the outermost and second projectiles to force the outermost projectile from the gun. As soon as the outermost projectile is discharged, the air pressure will be dissipated and the sleeve will relax to the position shown so that the series of projectiles can be advanced to a new firing position.

To advance the projectiles through the barrel toward the ring chamber, a follower is provided having a forward spherical portion 19 of substantially the same size and shape as the projectiles 16 and a flexible skirt portion 21 which tits sealingly against the inner surface of the barrel. The rear end of the barrel is closed by a plate 22 formed with an air passage 23 through which air can be pumped into the barrel to advance the follower therethrough. The passage 23 is closed against outflow of air by a flapper type check valve 24 and a apper relief valve 25 is preferably provided to limit air pressure in the barrel to the` amount desired for feeding the balls 'andi to prevent excessive pressure from damaging or crushing the balls. Y

Air is supplied to the firing chamber and to the rear end of the barrel by a double acting pump mounted immediately beneath the forward portion of the barrel for operation in the manner of a stan-dard pump gun. As shown the pump comprises a rigid piston tube 26 rigidly secured in the stock and projecting forward therefrom. At its forward end the tube 26 carries a piston 27 which is double sealed to be elective in both directions. At its rear end the tube 26 is connected through a relatively small tube or conduit 28 to the passage 23. A cylinder 29 ts slidably over the piston 27 and is sealed thereagainst to cooperate with the piston to form an air pump. One end of the cylinder fits slidably over the piston tube 26 and is sealed thereto by a seal 31 which acts to preventl air from leaking out of the cylinder but which will permit air to flow into the cylinder when it has moved toward the stock.

A rigid discharge tube 32 extends through the front end ofthe cylinder and lits into the end of the piston tube 26 to form a rigid continuation thereof. Openings` 33 are provided in the tubes just to the right of the piston so that air in the cylinder to the right of 'the piston can ow into the tube 20. Similar openings 34 are formed in the discharge tube 32 to the left of the piston and a closure 35 in the discharge tube separates the two sets of openings. The discharge tube 32 communicates with the air passage 18 in the tiring chamber and is sealed to the cylinder by a seal 36 similar to the seal 31 which acts as an air inlet check valve.

In operation balls may be loaded into the gun by forcing them into the tiring chamber past the annular lip 15 which will yield easily for this purpose. As the balls are forced into the chamber the follower will be pressed back to the rear end of the barrel until the barrel and tiring chamber are completely filled, as shown in Figure 1. At this time the gun is ready for operation. Assuming that the cylinder 29 is pushed forward or to the left, the

' Patented Sept. 11,

` 3 gunnis fired byM` pulling itrapidly backward. As the cylinder is moved backwards,r ar trapped to the left of the j piston 27 will be pumped through theopenings 34 and tube 32 to the firing chamber to lire the outermost projectile. ther-feint. DuringI this opera-tionv airy will; flow into: the.A right end-.of the cylinder pasttheseal 31'; As. the.- cylinder is moved forward or tofthe` left, air willlealtV into-the: left end thereof; past the scali` 36, andthe; air

trappedfin theA right end will. be pumped'i through theopemngs 33 and the tubes 26 and 2S intoytherear end.

of'. thebarrel-l i This airi willtorce the follower forward in thev barrel to move the: series of projectiles forward'- nntilthenext projectile engages the annular lipg15-V and is.` 1n. ai position-for tiring. The piston tube Ztmay be` made-.ot suchta size relative to the=diameter otthefcylinev der;v that thetforwardstroke of the-cylinder will pump yjust suflicientaair toadvance theV seniesoi projectiles'the' proper distance to. movethe next outermostl projectile to the tiring position.- Y

Itk will thus beseen that with the present invention,

each time thepumpcylinder is `reciprocatedv-one projectile will be discharged' through the ringchamber andtheseries` of projectiles in the barrel will be advanced toy bring the next projectileto firing position. lt will also bel apparent that the; entire barrel can' be lled with projectiles' without requiring any space for springmechanisms or thetlike so that the maximum numberof projectiles-ca-n be carried by the gun at each loading.

While one embodiment of the. invention has-been sho-wn anclfv described in detail it will be understood thatk this is illustrative only and is not to be taken as a definition of the scope ofthe invention, reference` being 'had for this` purpose to the appended claims.

What'isfclaimed is: l. A- repeating toy riecomprising an elongated barrel adapted tohold a series of projectiles, a tiring chamber- 2. A repeatingtoy riefcomprising anelongated barrel adapted; tohold. a series ofl projectiles, a ringchamber at oner end' ofi the barrel, tov receive projectiles; from the barrel. and to' discharge them successively, an annular yielding, ring in" the firing. chamber. sealing* against the outermost; projectile and. yieldable' :in response topressure to permit discharge of the outermost projectile/al-recip` roeating 4 air pump; an open: connect-ion from the;y pump totl the'A firing chamber toy supply' airtheretoto-,discharge a`- projectiletherefrom each v:time'thefpump fisrreciprocated, aco'nnectionfrom the pump-to theother end of. thewbarrelto' supply air thereto to force, theprofjectilesI throughf the barrel-l and into the tiring` chamberA acheck valvef inthe lastinamed connectionto prevent'iiow-of air. therethrough. toward the-purnp and to` retain air-under'pressure-in the other end-of the barrel', and azrelietv'alve: communicating with. the other' endY of the'- barrel to limit the pressure therein.

3. A repeating toy rie comprisingan .elongated barrel adapted'to' hold: a series ofprojectiles; atiring chamber at one end ofthe barrel to receive-projectilesfromthe;

barrel and to disehargefthem successively,l an annular,

yielding ring inthe firing chamber, seali'ngpvagainst` the outermost.projectilev and yieldable in response to, pressure.

to permitzdischa-rgeof the outermost projectile, a follower tting sldably in i the. series of projectiles, a reciprocating air pump, an

and sealing against the barrelbehind open connection from the pump to the iii'ing chamber to supply air to the tiring chamber to discharge a projectile therefrom each time the pump is reciprocated, a connection from the pump to the other end of the barrel to supply air thereto to force the follower and the projectiles through the barrel toward the tiring chamber a check valve in the last named connection to prevent ow of air therethrough toward the pumpand to retain air under pressure in the other end` of the barrel, and a relief valve communicating with.. the other end of'they barrel to limit the pressure therein.

4. A repeating toy rie comprising an elongated barrel adapted to hold-av series of projectiles, a ring chamber at' one end of the barrel to receive projectiles from the barrel and to discharge them successively, an annular yielding ring in the tiring chamber sealing against the outermost projectile and yieldable in response to pressure to permit discharge of the outermost projectile, a follower fitting slidably in andL sealing against` the barrel behind adaptedi to holdv a the; seriesof projectiles-,.a doublev acting pump including a: reciprocable element, and connections fromthe pump to'.y thering'chamber and tothe other` end'of thebarrel, so that' when the pump element is moved in one direction; air will be'v pumped tothe tiring; chamber to` dischargea" projectile therefrom and when the pump element ismoved in the other direction air will. be pumpedinto theother.

end'oi the'barreltofforce the follower and-the projectiles f throughy thefbarrelV toward the tiring` chamber;

5^; Al repeating; toy ride; comprising; an elongatedlbarrel. adapted to hold a series of projectiles, a tiring chamber'. atrone end? of thev barrel, means in the: tiring. chamber operable-in response'. to airtpressureto. grip a` secondzpro jectile-` inithe. series whereby air pressure will force: the" outermost'. projectile fromthe. gun,Y a follower fitting. in: and sealing against the barrel; a' doublef acting. pump? including a reciprocating operating-elemente and connections from'. the pump. to the` tiring chambcrzand the other, endtotlie'liarrelso: thatwhenthe' element is. rriovedinA one` direction: air will bepumpedtozthe tiring chamber andV when thejelement ismoved in; the other direction, air will be pumped to the other end oftthe barrel.

6. A repeating toy rie comprising an elongated. barrel adapted2 tohold' aseries of projectiles, a tiring chamber at. one end of the barrelganttla pumpA includingx a. pistonA tube rigidly'secured?besidethe barreland xedly carryingl a; piston;Y a connection from' ther-pistorntubeto the other. end of the barrel, a cylinderftting slidably and sealingly: over 'thepiston and tuhevvith` the: tubefextendingffr through onelend'fthereof; there beingran'openingfrom the cylinder: intoathe pistoni tube1 at` one; sidegof the.. piston,` and a--disar charge tube connected to the tiring chamber'andlopeningz into the cylinder at' the otherside-,oithe piston.

7. A repeating toy rifle comprising. antelorigatedbarrel. series of. projectiles, i ailring chamber at one end of the barrel, and a pump including a piston: tubeg rigidly` secured beside. the; barrel and iiretllyV `carrying a piston, a connectionzfrom'the piston tube to. the other end' of the barrel; ascylindertitting sli'cla-bly,` and sealingly over the piston and tube with thetubeextending` through one endlthereof, therebeinganop'ening; from* the cylinder: into the pistorrtube atone side. of the piston, andadischarge tube secured tothe. piston` tube-in: align` ment therewith andv extending' through and opening into the cylinderA at the other sidefof the pistonland.'connected.r

to the Atii'ingchamber;

References Cited in the tile of this patentN STATES? PATENTS 210,976 stom. De@;11 tsr/s1 2,601,555' Pope .Jnnezntssa FOREIGN rrA'riaisirsA 473,731 canada Mayan, ix 

